Posted by  Brandon Aldridge,  on 05/21  at  08:24 AM

EC needs to go, it’s time.  He’s done a solid job but all good things must end.  As far as graduation rates and winning they should go hand in hand.  I read one blog response that must have been from Rip Van Winkle about EC’s team in 1996.  C’mon get real, he needs to go and a fresh attitude will change things.

Go Bulls!

Posted by  K. Strickland, Tampa on 05/21  at  03:13 AM

Hey Jim and you other Cardieri doubters,

I was a kid out of high school that wasn’t recruited.  I didn’t have any one knocking at my door and if I didn’t get hurt my Junior year I would have done exactly what EC predicted.  I would have been a 3 - 5th round draft pick and been able to do something with my career.  I owe everything to EC and I wasn’t a celebrated athelte coming out of high school at all. I wonder, what do you have to say about that?  Bottom line, EC is a great judge of talent and should be commended for what he has done at USF.  Does no one remember that USF was two outs away from the College World Series in ‘96.  He has done far more than what he is getting now and those who doubt him should be ashamed.

Posted by  D. Richtberg, Tampa on 05/21  at  03:05 AM

No matter how you slice it EC is a very good coach, a class act, and I wouldn’t trade any moment at USF for anything.

This rant brought to you exclusively by
K. Strickland via D. Richtberg

Posted by  D. Richtberg, Tampa on 05/21  at  03:04 AM

Bottom line, “Players, play. Coaches coach.  Parents support.” It seems to me that the players and parents are coaching and both are finding every excuse not to excel.  When I played we did not worry about how coach managed a game; we worried about how to win that game no matter how the game was managed.
People need to stop worrying about how things are said or done but how much good has been done over the past 21 YEARS since EC has been there.

Nepotism my ass.  That is just the fashionable excuse for today.  Find another excuse five years from now when EC is coaching USF or another program that is on the verge of being very successful.

Posted by  D. Richtberg, Tampa on 05/21  at  03:02 AM

He doesn’t play the games and can only manage the game as the players dictate.  If anyone can dispute that EC truly cares about his players, I would like to find them.  If anyone can dispute that EC is not doing everything he can do win, I want to meet them. EC is playing the hand he was dealt and if his players don’t want to win because they are more interested in getting him removed than winning, there is nothing he can do.

Posted by  D. Richtberg, Tampa on 05/21  at  02:58 AM

It is not EC’s fault that he did not fulfill the role of captain the way he should have, nor should EC bear the responsibility that a player did become the player he could have been because his parents fed him expectations that he could not live up to.

Look at the guys that have graduated from EC’s program and you will find those that represent their communities well and support him wholely.

Posted by  D. Richtberg, Tampa on 05/21  at  02:57 AM

Mr. Belloti, catch a clue. 

As a captain JB should not feel singled out in front of the team at all as captain are supposed to be singled out as leaders, exceptions, and should be seen as examples whether they succeed or fail.

Leaders are leaders in good times or in bad, and should be looked up to by underclassemen whether they succeed or fail.

CONT.

Posted by  Jim Martin, Tampa, FL on 05/20  at  11:15 PM

GV...Have a take, don’t suck! I’m sure that you are one of those guys who phones in on the Rome show 1000 times a day just to get shot down by J-Stu b/c what you have to say is useless. It must be b/c of this rejection that you feel the need to share your uselessness on local blogs. Your comments are not only senseless but until Mr. Richtberg or Mr. Uhl decide to write again, you are currently at the top of stupidity in this blog. This is not about a dad trying to live through his son, but instead a dad who has seen what this pathetic excuse for a coach can do to a players career and is trying to make sure it does not happen to someone else’s kid. Commend him for that. Like the USF baseball team in May: I’m out!

Posted by  GV, Tampa on 05/20  at  07:25 PM

Mr. Belloti, you must be one of those Dad’s that plays softball on a team on the weekends that goes 0-2! I called that Angry Softball Player!Quit living your dream through your son. Throw him a few softballs, and maybe he can catch on with a team locally in your State!

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/20  at  01:13 PM

HH,in other words, what you are trying to say is you don’t have a clue. You are just rambling and reaching for air, only because you feel compelled to support Cardieri for whatever missguided allegence you have. You are either a ex player from years ago, who has now idea what’s happening today. Or you just feel like Cardieri is a nice guy who no matter what he does is ok with you.

Posted by  John Sommers, Tampa on 05/20  at  08:25 AM

Look, enough is enough, EC’s time has passed, the program is in disarray, give him an administrative job and let someone new take over.  EC should have a job at USF, just not the baseball job.  He knew what he was getting into when he gave his son a scholarship and now it has come back to haunt him.  The comment he made about running players, and they could die, is the most ridiculous comment he has every made.  EC ask the AD for an administrative job!

Posted by  HH, Tampa on 05/20  at  01:30 AM

Im sorry Mr Belotti, but I cant say that someone was removed bc they didnt like the coaches son or whatever you are claiming was the reason, but there are several players, heck a female basketball player was just kicked off, but yet shes still on scholarship, all Im saying is that plenty of kids who get thrown off a team keep their scholarships, NOT all but it happens...I dont know Kio and I dont know what happened to him, I guess Brett forgot to ask him how he feels, but since we have covered all of the other former bitter players maybe he was a decent person and wouldnt comment and for someone who says they have moved on, it seems like you left a little bit behind…

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/19  at  08:05 PM

Go ahead HH, I challenge you to cite me one provable example of a student removed from the team under the conditions Jeremy was and still remain under scholarship. Because I have never heard of it and I have been around the block a few times. John Kio was removed at the same time as JB and he lost his scholarship. So tell me the difference HH. Bottom line is still, Cardieri has lost control and respect and should be replaced.

Posted by  H.H., Tampa on 05/19  at  03:29 PM

Scott Glaser and John Vigue are former players who were not kicked off the team or transfered, that is a HUGE difference. Mr. Belotti, it happens often that when a player is removed from a team, that they do stay on scholarship, that is very common, so dont say that the admin thought that something was wrong with it or else maybe something else would have happened.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 05/19  at  12:59 PM

David, I interviewed several players no longer with the program, including Scott Glaser and John Vigue. I quoted Scott and John extensively and they were very supportive of Cardieri. So if I’m after EC’s head, why would I quote former players that think highly of him?

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/19  at  12:05 PM

MR. richtberg, you continue to remain ignorant to this story. For one, Jeremy is not technically a former player. Perhaps you can find out why the AD refused to allow EC to pull his scholarship for this season. What motivated him to give the 3rd highest monatary value (over $5,200)to a student EC refused to play. If you find the answer, post it, because the admin refused comment to Brett. Don’t get me wrong, JB is gratefull, he graduated, but obviously the AD sensed something then don’t you think? And second, the point you miss, this crap has been going on for some time, what better way to find that out than to ask those involved from the past.

Posted by  David Richtberg, Tampa, FL on 05/19  at  11:33 AM

Brett,

If this is not a hunt for EC’s head then why did you interview two players who are no longer with the program?

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/18  at  11:33 PM

You couldn’t be more wrong Jon. Had Cardieri chastised you and wronged you in the ways he has others, are you going to tell me it wouldn’t have affected the way you were able to pitch? If you knew an 0 for 4 would put you on the bench or in your case perhaps, not making it out of the first inning with 3 walks (remember Kio), you would not feel pressure each at bat or each pitch? I think not. You should just count your lucky stars you were one of Eddie’s favorites. Jeremy has moved on, but that doesn’t give Cardieri the right to continue to demoralize anyone else.

Posted by  Brett McMurphy,  on 05/18  at  10:47 PM

HH, to answer your questions: Read the article again. Never once does it say Cardieri is not a good man or a nice person. Every player I spoke with said they like EC, but for various reasons they had lost respect. I’ve been working on this story for a few months and it’s timely because he has not had his contracted renewed and USF’s senior class will be the first in 25 years not to reach the NCAA Tournament. If the teammates know who these people are, like you say, why didn’t they take care of this problem? It’s been going on at least two years. I didn’t create the problem, I only reported it. You ask what kind of team unity do they have now? What kind of team unity have they had all season? I’d say not much.

Posted by  H.H., Tampa on 05/18  at  10:10 PM

Brett the next time you write a story, dont forget to ask the girlfriends of the players, they might be able to tell you some insight to a season that you never looked at until now. Since when did everyone care about baseball?? Oh & by the way, who writes this while in season & asks the CURRENT baseball players to comment on their coach, the person that is leading them. Hell these kids didnt need to stay anonomous, their teamates know who they are. What kind of team unity will this team have now?? Can EC trust any one of his players?? No, thank you Brett for tearing a team appart…

Posted by  H.H., Tampa on 05/18  at  10:07 PM

My question is, out of those “more than 3 dozen people” that you interviewed, how many said nice things about EC?? How he made sure he graduated, how he made him a better man?? BC obviously, in this story it seems as though it is one sided. Im sure if you ask any parent or any player for that matter, that has been kicked off a team or transfered, that they have nothing nice to say...Only the smart ones say no comment. I cant disagree with this article as much as I disagree how it was done…

Posted by  Jim Martin, Tampa, FL on 05/18  at  08:46 PM

Mr. Uhl, speaking of entries that fail to reach any conclusions and do no such good for the relevancy of this story...What exactly was your point??
Let us not stray from the issue people. Coach Cardieri has obviously lost control of this team and by the looks of everything I would have to question how long he has had no control… 5,6, 10 years?? The things such as in this story could not have just up and happened one mysterious year. Getting a new stadium is not going to turn the worst coach in college baseball into some kind of savior, digging USF out of the hole that he has dug. It looks as though that if you were to ask most fans they would rather see Bellotti back on the field and Cardieri out of the dugout.

Posted by  Jon Uhl, Tampa on 05/18  at  06:59 PM

Mr. Bellotti, Please stop writing more entries, your theories fail to reach any conclusion and do no such good for the relevancy of this story. Bottom line, you can go back and forth on only your side of the story and that’s it. Obviously you need some sort of closure on JB’s “dream” and “potential” career. At the end of the day, I don’t think EC had anything to do with JB hitting .193- let’s try and move on.

Posted by  David Richtberg, Tampa, FL on 05/18  at  10:04 AM

Mr. Belloti,

I am not a part of his biological family but I am part of the Bulls Family as I played for Coach.  Come to the conference tourney after we win a few games this weekend and then play in the tourney and just see the support for him.  I understand you are upset at how things were handled, I am sure any caring parent such as yourself would be upset.

He has helped and will continue to help many people at USF.

I am loyal to him, as he was to me, and that is one trait that could not be said about many coaches at other programs.

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/18  at  09:18 AM

My anger is again stirring a year later. All you readers can come to your own conclussions. Cardieri made a huge mistake in his handling of the nepotism issue, the discipline issue, and the way he treated Jeremy in making an example of him to keep the other players in his line. Those things were not handled the way a respected D-1 coach should opperate. Thanks to those that have supported JB, he and I both appreciate you. I don’t have it in me to continue this any longer. We have moved on and now it time for the USF program to move on as well, without Cardieri to take it down further.